Episode Details

The US President Donald Trump says he will hold off attacking Iran until Tehran's negotiating teams come up with a unified proposal for a peace agreement.

In a social media post, Mr Trump says he will extend a ceasefire until the Iranians submit a proposal.

Meanwhile, the Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The President made the comments in a phone call this week with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince - in the wake of the US navy seizing an Iranian cargo ship near the Strait on Monday.

The US has credited China with getting both sides to the table at the last round of peace talks in Pakistan.

So what does the war in the middle east mean for China and the Asia Pacific? 

• GUEST: Ryan Hass, Director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution and former director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia in the US National Security Council
• PRODUCER: Pip Cook